Electric pneumatic time-switch.



0. SMILEY, E. C. APPLEGATE & G. R. BENNETT. ELECTRIC PNEUMATIC mus swncn. APPLICATION FILED 00124. I915.

1,208,676. Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

WENTORS ORVALL SMILEY EARL c. APPLE ATBW GlY R. BENNETT.

A TT ORNEYS WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORVALL SMILEY AND EARL C. APPLEGATE, F INDIANAPOLIS, AND GUY R. BENNETT, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA; SAID SMILEY ASSIGNOR OF HIS ONE-THIRD TO DAVID A. FREW, OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC PNEUMATIC TIME-SWITCH.

Application filed October 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ORVALL SMILEY, EARL C. APPLEGATE, and GUY R. BENNETT, citizens of the United States, and residents of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, and Fort \Vayne, respectively, counties of Marion and Allen, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Pneumatic Time-Switch; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

This invention relates to an electric pneumatic time switch whereby electric lights may be turned off and at the same time have a desired interval elapse before they go out.

The invention is particularly desirable in stores, garages and the like where it is desired to close up the place and leave it with the lights burning, and then after a certain interval of time has elapsed, have them go out without the necessity of the turning and switching them off. To accomplish this object there is a small switch box having a pneumatic cylinder therein with a weight on one end having an opening therein and a stop cock. The cylinder is so arranged that by adjusting the stop cook, it will gradually be forced downward by means of its weight and after reaching its lowered position, will open the circuit, thereby turning off the lights. The time of the descent of the cylinder, and, therefore, the lapse of time before the circuit will be broken, is adjusted by the stop cock. Then by means of a key the cylinder will be released from its contact making position and it will begin its descent to contact breaking position, governed by the adjustment of the stop cock, as above set forth.

The full-nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a cylinder in contact making position. Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 showing the cylinder in contact breaking position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In detail there is shown a switch box which may be entirely closed excepting for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 54,038.

an opening near a pet cock when in the position shown in Fig. 1, through which said pet cock may be adjusted. There is a pneumatic cylinder 11 having a weight 12 secured to the upper end thereof with an air passage or outlet 13 extending through it. On the end of said weight 12 there is a valve 11 adapted to close the outlet 13 or reduce the opening to any degree desired. For this purpose, any form of valve may be used.

Rigidly secured to the side of the cylinder there is an arm 15 pivoted to the switch box at 16 about which point the cylinder is adapted to move. \Vithin the cylinder there is a suitable piston 17 with packing rings 18 and secured to a wrist pin 19. There are two connecting rods 20 pivoted to each other at 21, one of which is pivoted to the wrist pin 19 and the other to said box at 22. Secured to said box there is a projection 23 adapted to limit the connecting rod in its movement in one direction, as shown. There is an arm 24: extending from one side of the box to said cylinder at right angles thereto in its upper position, as shown in F ig. 1. Said arm is' adapted to engage said cylinder and a projection 25 on the side thereof so as to hold it in its upper position. Said arm is pivoted to a projection 26 secured to the side of the box and is operated from the outside by a key lever, or any other suitable means, not shown, by means of which the cylinder may be raised and held in its contact making position when said arm is turned upward or may be released so as to make its downward descent to its contact breaking position when said arm is turned downward, as shown in Fig. 2; Secured to said box at the upper side thereof there is a spring switch 27 which extends downward and makes contact with the cylinder when in its upper position. Said spring is so constructed that when the cylinder is in its lower position the contact is broken. as shown in Fig. 2.

There is shown in the drawings an in candescent lamp 28 with its circuit 29 pass-' ing through the spring 27 the cylinder 11 and arm 15. I

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired that the lights go out about ten minutes after they are turned off,

the valve is adjusted so that the length of time for the weight 12 to force the cylinder against the air pressure thereof reduced by its escaping through the outlet 13, will, take that length of time in its descent. The key is turned so as to lower the arm 2% thereby releasing the cylinder and allowing it to start its descent and the cylinder will then gradually fall until it passes the end of the spring 27, thereby breaking the circuit. When it is desired to light the lamps, the key is turned so as to raise the arm 24: and force the cylinder upwardly, thereby making contact with the spring 27 and closing the circuit.

The invention claimed is:

1. An electric switch comprising a switch box, a cylinder pivoted to the wall of said box, a piston in said cylinder, a cylinder head having an adjustable aperture thereon, a contact spring secured to said box so as to engage and make contact with said cylinder, and a releasable arm pivoted to said box adapted to engage and disengage said cylinder, whereby said cylinder will be held in position to engage said spring by said arm until released, when it will fall by force of gravity from its contact position within a given time, depending upon the time it takes the air to pass through said aperture.

2. An electric switch comprising an air cylinder, a switch box, an arm on said cylinder pivoted to said switch box, a piston in said cylinder, a weight on the end of said cylinder, having an aperture therethrough, a valve for adjusting the opening in the aperture, a spring switch secured to said box and extending downward so as to engage said cylinder when in its upward po sition, and an arm pivoted to said box adapted to be turned in a position to engage said cylinder and hold it in engagement with said spring and in a position to disengage said cylinder and allow it to be forced downwardly by means of said weight against the compressed air escaping through said valve to a position out of engagement with said spring, thereby breaking the circuit.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

ORVALL SMILEY. EARL C. APPLEGATE. GUY R. BENNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

